deathstroke – Nerdisthttp://nerdist.com
Thu, 24 May 2018 17:30:35 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.5Does the Deathstroke vs. Batman Comic Storyline Hint at the DCEU’s Future?http://nerdist.com/deathstroke-vs-batman-comic-dceu/
Tue, 23 Jan 2018 01:00:47 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=567617For most of his existence, Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke the Terminator, has primarily been an enemy of the Teen Titans or a fan favorite anti-hero. That’s why it was surprising when Joe Manganiello was cast as Deathstroke in Justice League with an eye towards using him as the lead villain in The Batman. In the comics, Deathstroke and Batman don’t have a lot of history together, but they’re about to get a new reason to fight.

DC has announced a six-part “Deathstroke vs. Batman” storyline that will run through the ongoing Deathstroke series beginning with issue 30. Within that tale, Batman will discover a DNA test that seemingly confirms the identity of Robin a.k.a. Damian Wayne’s real father: Deathstroke. From there, Deathstroke and Batman will clash over Damian’s future as the mystery of his birth unfolds.

Now, because this is comics, it’s not unreasonable to expect some kind of fake out. As far as we know, Talia al Ghul and Slade Wilson have never been lovers, but that doesn’t preclude the possibility that Talia’s father, Ra’s al Ghul, or even Talia herself, used some of Slade’s DNA to conceive her child. The knowledge of that might spur Deathstroke to feel as if he truly has a claim on Damian. And considering how messed up Slade’s actual children are, he would probably welcome a fresh start with his previously unknown son.

Physically and mentally, Deathstroke is one of the few adversaries who can truly give Batman a run for his money. That’s probably why he was the initial choice for The Batman‘s big bad. This storyline may not have anything to do with the movies, but it has inadvertently done something that could prove to be very valuable to the DC Extended Universe. It’s given Batman and Deathstroke a personal stake in their battle that they’ve never had before. In the cinematic realm, it’s always a deeper experience when the hero and the villain have well-developed reasons to oppose each other. And it doesn’t get more personal than Batman and Deathstroke fighting over the soul of a boy whom they both claim as their son.

It should be noted that plans for The Batman are seemingly up in the air, and Ben Affleck seems to constantly waver about whether he’ll stay for a solo movie or step out of the role. It’s also unknown if The Batman director Matt Reeves plans to use Deathstroke at all. But given his placement in Justice League and the rumors of a solo film, we’re far from done with Manganiello’s Deathstroke in the DCEU.

The regular Deathstroke creative team of Christopher Priest and Carlo Pagulayan will chronicle Slade’s fight with Batman beginning in Deathstroke #30, which will be released on Wednesday, April 4.

Do you think that this Deathstroke vs. Batman story could make it to the big screen? Share your thoughts below!

Images: DC Comics

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]]>Is the DC Extended Universe Pulling a Reverse AVENGERS?http://nerdist.com/nerdist-news-dc-extended-universe-pulling-a-reverse-avengers/
Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:00:43 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=563788If 2017 has taught us anything, it’s that creating a successful cinematic universe isn’t as easy as Marvel makes it look. The DC Extended Universe was supposed to be the challenger that could give the MCU a real run for its money. Between proven box office heroes Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, as well as the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg, what could go wrong? As it turns out, a lot. Justice League was far from a failure, but it didn’t live up to the studios’ oversized expectations. However, there may be hope ahead for DC fans, and today’s Nerdist News is taking a look at the DCEU’s possible future.

There are spoilers ahead from Justice League‘s post-credits scene. Hopefully you’ve seen it by now. If not, consider this your final warning to turn back!

Join our host and the only surviving member of the Justice League Detroit team, Jessica Chobot, as she walks us through reports from El Fanboy about the implications of Justice League‘s post-credits scene. According to that rumor, the scene between Lex Luthor and Deathstroke was about more than just Justice League 2. The rise of the villains may be driving force of several DCEU movies before the studio even gets around to a Justice League sequel.

The prevailing theory behind this report is that Warner Bros. wants to move away from cosmic bad guys like Darkseid in the wake of Steppenwolf’s uninspiring turn in the first Justice League film. The movie made a big move in that direction by closing with Luthor’s suggestion that he and Deathstroke should have their own Injustice League to counter the new team of heroes.

El Fanboy suggests that the new team of villains will be going by the Legion of Doom name that originated in Challenge of the Super Friends animated series. And we’re not talking about a one-off appearance. Instead, it sounds like DC is inverting the Marvel formula by bringing the villains together one at a time. There’s talk that Deathstroke could even get his own movie, while Suicide Squad‘s Joker, and potentially Black Manta from Aquaman serve as the next recruits.

The DC universe isn’t hurting for great villains, and this could be just the thing to bring back a sense of excitement to these comic book adaptations. And if the studio can make Justice League 2 feel like a major event, then that could pay off by expanding the playing field for an even larger number of DC characters.

What do you think about this possible new direction for the DCEU? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: Warner Bros. Pictures

]]>It’s Slade Wilson vs. Dr. Ikon in DEATHSTROKE #26 (Exclusive Preview)http://nerdist.com/deathstroke-26-slade-wilson-vs-dr-ikon-exclusive-preview/
Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:00:59 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=559378No matter what you might have thought of the film itself, one of the coolest parts of Justice League was its kickass post-credits sequence. Spoilers here, folks, but actor Joe Manganiello showed up as Deathstroke to team up with Lex Luthor. When he took off his helmet, he was the spitting image of the comic book version of Slade Wilson, the worlds greatest mercenary. It was pretty dang cool.

Now, whether or not we get a Deathstroke in future movies is up in the air, but you can still find DC Comics’ #1 assassin in his own monthly series. In the latest storyline, Slade has turned over a new leaf and given up killing, and has formed his own troupe of young heroes called Team Defiance. This group includes Kid Flash, his children Jericho and Ravager, the new Power Girl, and Terra.

Considering his relationship with Terra in the previous DC continuity (short version: she was a psychopath he planted in the Teen Titans to destroy them from within), this… can’t go well. In the meantime, other villains in the DCU aren’t into this newly reformed Slade, and are letting him know just what they think of “good guy” Deathstroke.

You can check out our exclusive preview of the first five pages from Deathstroke #26, together with both variant covers down below in our gallery.

““The Fall of Slade” part one! Finally convinced that their leader is missing, Team Defiance begins the search for Deathstroke only to discover his situation is even more dire than expected. Meanwhile, Deathstroke—after being kidnapped by the Secret Society of Super-Villains—finds his past catching up with him when his former friend and ally Dr. Ikon confronts the repentant killer while repressing his own uncontrollable rage. ”

Deathstroke #26 is due to hit stores on Wednesday, December 6th.

What do you make of Deathstroke as a pure hero and not an anti-hero? Let us know what you think down below in the comments.

Although Slade Wilson has previously appeared in Smallville and in Arrow, Justice League marks the first time that the assassin known as Deathstroke has appeared on the big screen. During the end credits scene of the film, Joe Manganiello makes a cameo as Deathstroke before taking off his mask to reveal that his take on Slade Wilson looks a lot more like his comic book counterpart than the character’s two previous incarnations. On Friday, Manganiello released a picture of himself in costume as Deathstroke without his signature mask.

Back in 1980, Marv Wolfman and George Perez created Deathstroke the Terminator as one of the main adversaries for the Teen Titans. However, the character became so popular that he outgrew the Titans and landed his own comic book series as an antihero. Even during the current DC Rebirth, Deathstroke is headlining his own comic as one of the major players in the DC Universe.

During the production of Justice League, it was heavily rumored that Deathstroke would be the villain of The Batman, opposite Ben Affleck‘s Dark Knight. While Deathstroke is not traditionally one of Batman’s primary enemies, he is one of the few foes who can match Batman physically and mentally. It’s not currently known if Deathstroke will still be in the next Batman film, but his appearance in Justice League indicates that he remains a part of the DC Extended Universe‘s plans.

Lex Luthor’s suggestion that he and Deathstroke form a League of their own also implies that the Injustice League/Secret Society/Legion of Doom could be the Justice League’s next threat. The box office response to Justice League may not have been everything that Warner Bros. hoped for, but we’re still likely to see this story come to fruition.

How do you feel about Manganiello’s take on Deathstroke? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Images: DC Comics/Warner Bros.

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]]>What JUSTICE LEAGUE’s Post-Credits Scenes Mean For The DCEUhttp://nerdist.com/justice-league-post-credits-scenes-dceu/
Fri, 17 Nov 2017 23:25:22 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=557036Warning: This post contains spoilers about the Justice League post-credits scenes. Check back with us after you’ve seen the movie!

Justice League has finally Boomtubed into movie theaters across the country, and now fans have a better idea of what the future of the DC Extended Universe looks like. Part of that comes from the two additional scenes placed during the mid-credits and post-credits. The influence of the MCU was definitely felt during those sequences, and Joss Whedon, the director of the Justice League reshoots, may have had a hand in those. Today’s Nerdist News is examining both scenes and explaining what they may mean for the DCEU.

Join host and Mother Box collector, Jessica Chobot, as she talks about perhaps the most lighthearted scene in a DC movie since the Christopher ReeveSuperman movies. In a sequence straight out of the comics, Superman and the Flash decide to have a footrace to determine which one is faster. That’s a very Silver Age idea, and it’s the kind of human touch that’s been missing from most of the previous DC films since Man of Steel. And perhaps that race was an indication that the DC movies are going in a lighter direction as a course correction.

But the scene that’s really going to get people talking is the one at the very end. Lex Luthor has made his escape and returned to his life of luxury. But he’s not alone. Joe Manganiello made his DCEU debut as Deathstroke in that sequence, and Luthor openly spoke about forming “a League of their own.” That’s got us hoping to see an Injustice League in the inevitable sequel. Obviously the Joker would have to be there, and Circe seems like a good choice to be Wonder Woman‘s foil on that team. The other members would have to be rivals for Aquaman, the Flash, and Cyborg.

DC has a long history of bringing its bad guys together into supergroups. If “Injustice League” is too on-the-nose, then perhaps the group could go by the Secret Society name that has also been used in the comics. Even though Legion of Doom is more closely associated with the Super-Friends animated series, it’s still a pretty awesome name as well. Whatever name they go by, DC’s villains are still a largely untapped asset in this cinematic universe. Hopefully this is where that changes.

Are you excited about the future of the DCEU after seeing these post-credits scenes? Let us know in the comment section below!

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]]>DEATHSTROKE Movie Reportedly in the Works from THE RAID Directorhttp://nerdist.com/deathstroke-movie-the-raid-gareth-evans-dc-comics/
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 22:15:48 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=551917After his casting was announced a year or so back, reportedly for a Batman solo film, it now seems Joe Manganiello will be starring in his own film as DC’s most famous assassin/anti-hero Deathstroke. The report comes courtesy of The Wrap, who say that The Raid director Gareth Evans is in early discussions to write and direct the film. Warner Brothers have since confirmed they are in very early talks with Evans. No tentative release date has been given.

Last year, Ben Affleckposted a tweet of Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke walking towards the camera, on what looks to be the set of the Flying Fox from the upcoming Justice League film. Fans wondered if this meant Deathstroke would appear in Justice League (which could still happen), but later it was learned that Affleck had set his sights on having the character appear as the main antagonist in his Batman solo film. However, with Matt Reeves taking over, it seems those plans changed, and his script is starting from scratch, probably meaning no Deathstroke in the Batman movie after all.

Regardless, it seems that Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment is keen on Manganiello as Deathstroke enough to give the former True Blood and Magic Mike actor his own potential franchise. Deathstroke originally appeared in New Teen Titans #2 way back in 1980, created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. He quickly became their primary antagonist, and sometimes ally. He planted the spy Terra in their ranks, and later, his son Jericho joined the team. In the early ’90s he would receive his own ongoing series from creator Marv Wolfman.

Deathstroke is something of a dark take on Marvel’s Captain America — a former US soldier, Slade Wilson volunteers for experiments that making him a living fighting machine. Instead of becoming a patriotic superhero though, he becomes the worlds greatest mercenary. Aside from the Titans, he would come in conflict with almost every major DC hero over the years. He’s appeared in various media over the years, like the Teen Titans animated series, where he went by the name Slade. He has also been a major bad guy on the CW’s Arrow. Of course, Marvel’s “merc with the mouth” Deadpool was originally conceived of as a mash up of Spider-Man and Deathstroke, with Deadpool’s real name Wade Wilson a less than subtle homage to Slade Wilson.

What do you think of a potential Deathstroke film? And what comics storylines would you like to see adapted for the big screen? Let us know down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics

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]]>Animated TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT Does the Classic DC Comic Justice (Review)http://nerdist.com/teen-titans-the-judas-contract-dc-comics-justice-review-deathstroke-go-nightwing-starfire-blu-ray/
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 18:00:03 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=494352Ten years ago at Comic-Con in San Diego, Warner Brothers Animation and DC Comics announced a new initiative where they would be making PG-13 animated films for the straight-to-DVD market. The first three films announced were Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier, and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Although the first two films came out and were a success, the Titans film was delayed, and ultimately, cancelled, due to brand awareness not being high enough (despite the fact that the Teen Titans animated series had been an enormous success on Cartoon Network.)

Well, good things come to those who wait, as 10 years later, the Teen Titans: The Judas Contract movie finally hits Blu-ray/DVD (April 18) and digital download (now). So was it worth the very long wait? I’m going to go out on a limb and say absolutely. And believe me, I’m a tough customer. See, The Judas Contract just happens to be my favorite comic book storyline of all time, and the reason I’m the hardcore comic book fan I am today. So I went into this with, shall we say, a raised eyebrow…especially after the original Teen Titans animated series kind of took this story and softballed it big time.

The original comic book storyline on which this film is based ran over two years, and took the readership by total surprise. During the early ’80s, the two biggest hits in the comics world were X-Men and New Teen Titans…and they were constantly being compared to each other. When Titans introduced new member Tara Markov, who was a plucky, sarcastic 15 year old who controlled the earth and went by the code name Terra, fans cried foul and said she was a rip-off of the X-Men’s own junior mascot Kitty Pryde. But Titans creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez had an ace up her sleeve, and a year into Terra being a member, they revealed that she was actually spy, planted on the team by their mortal enemy, the mercenary Deathstroke.

While fans (like a ten year-old me) fervently hoped that their new favorite sarcastic teen hero was really a triple agent, and would show her good side before it was all said and done, Wolfman and Perez gave the fans no such comfort. Terra turned out to be true sociopath, rotten to the core, and any affection she showed her teammates–especially Beast Boy, who was in love with her–was nothing but an act. As a young reader, my heart was broken…but man, I knew I had just been taken along for an excellent ride. It was my first lesson as a kid that a good story often gives you what you need, and not necessarily what you want.

So how does this shortened, new retelling stack up to the original classic? Pretty damn well, I must say, resulting in one of the best DC animated films to date. Yes, there are some huge changes from the original comic: for starters, two key members of the comics team aren’t really a part of this adaptation. Cyborg has been “graduated” to the Justice League in recent years, so he’s been replaced by the Jaime Reyes version of Blue Beetle (Jake T. Austin). Donna Troy/Wonder Girl only has a “blink and you miss it” cameo. And the Damian Wayne version of Robin (Stuart Allen) has a major role, despite not even being a glimmer in Bruce Wayne’s eye when the original comic was written. Titans villains the H.I.V.E. and Brother Blood have been combined into one threat.

But ultimately, none of these changes really matter, because director Sam Liu and writer Ernie Altbacker get so much of the essence of the comic right. Most importantly, they nail the characters and relationship of Terra (Christina Ricci) and Beast Boy (Brandon Soo). Just as in the comics, Beast Boy is a jokester who uses humor to hide the pain of his unique nature, but who eventually opens up his true self to her. Terra, on the other hand, is made completely uncomfortable by the loving group the Titans represent, not knowing at all how to deal with these selfless people, so utterly unlike herself. Just as in the comics, you feel her barely contained disgust at this family of do-gooders at all times.

Another aspect of the comics that the film gets perfect is the relationship between veteran Titans Nightwing (Sean Maher) and Starfire (Kari Wahlgren). Batman’s first sidekick and the alien warrior princess may seem like an odd romantic match, but the film perfectly captures what made these two into comics’ power couple for so long (You even get their first meeting, in an adorable flashback sequence that should delight most old school Teen Titans fans). More than that, it makes Starfire the leader of the team, something she wasn’t in the comics, and it’s a welcome improvement that enhances her character.

The voice cast, almost all of whom carry over from previous DC animated films, are uniformly great. Sean Maher continues to shine as Nightwing, and Brandon Soo is an excellent choice for Gar Logan/Beast Boy. He and Christina Ricci are the heart of this story after all. Taissa Farmiga takes more of a backseat as Raven from the last film, but is no less perfect in the role. And the late, great Miguel Ferrer gaves us a truly great version of Slade Wilson/Deathstroke. The action beats are terrific, especially when Nightwing takes on Deathstroke in battle.

One aspect of the comic that remains controversial, and one fans might be wondering about, is that of the sexual relationship between Terra and her much, much older partner-in-crime Deathstroke. In the movie, this is toned down quite a bit. Tara clearly wants to seduce Deathstroke, but he resists her advances, promising to consummate their relationship once she betrays the team and gets the job done. Was it important that they delete the ickier aspects of their relationship for the movie to work? Not really, especially since both characters are contract killers and not good people. I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be extra bothered by their having a sketchy relationship, as they are both amoral villains. But today’s attitudes about such things are not what they were 30 years ago, so it’s understandable why it was changed.

This movie has the unenviable task of not only adapting a beloved comics storyline, but also serve as a sequel to recent DC animated films like Justice League vs. Teen Titans and Batman vs. Robin. That it manages to do both successfully is a credit to all involved. I sincerely hope we see more adventures with this Teen Titans line-up in future films, especially with all the teases this movie leaves us with for possible future stories.We DC animation fans simply can’t live on Batman and Justice League stories alone.

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is now available via digital download, and hits Blu-ray and DVD on April 18.

4 OUT OF 5 TITANIC BURRITOS:

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Which Titans stories would you like to see adapted next? Let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Warner Brothers Animation/DC Comics

]]>Todd McFarlane Teases The Return of HAUNThttp://nerdist.com/todd-mcfarlane-teases-the-return-of-haunt/
Thu, 17 Nov 2016 02:30:56 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=457892Welcome comics fangirls and fanboys to your weekday edition of Comics Relief! To start things off this week, two of the biggest names at Image Comics are teasing the return of one of their more recent creations. Read on for all the info.

Todd McFarlane hints at the return of Haunt

Several years back, the two most important Image Comics names, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and TheWalking Dead’s own Robert Kirkman, collaborated on a comic called Haunt, which featured artwork by Greg Capullo, Ryan Ottley and McFarlane himself. The series ran for 28 issues between 2009 and 2012, and revolved around the supernatural hero Daniel Kilgore (ugh, that name), a priest haunted by the spirit of his murdered special agent brother. Now McFarlane is teasing the return of this character via Facebook. Is Haunt a character anyone is dying to see again? It seems one way or another, this guy is coming back, although not sure if it’s “by popular demand” or not. [CBR]

Darth Maul to receive his own Marvel mini-series

He was easily the best part of The Phantom Menace, and even George Lucas admits it was a mistake to kill him off so fast (the character has since returned on Clone Wars and now Rebels). Now, the mysterious backstory of Darth Maul will be explored in a new Star Wars Marvel mini-series coming next year.

The five-part Darth Maul mini is coming from the creative team of writer Cullen Bunn and artist Luke Ross, and will apparently take place before The Phantom Menace, when Maul began training under Darth Sidious. For more on this new mini-series, be sure to click on our full story at the following link [Nerdist].

UK’s Mr. Bean comes to comics

Attention, British comedy lovers! Dabel Brothers Publishing has announced a comic series based on the classic British TV comedy, Mr. Bean, with the first issue realeasing in spring of 2017. Mr. Bean will be illustrated by Ricardo Jaime, but no other members of the creative team have been announced.

Created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, Mr Bean premiered on the British channel ITV in 1990. The 14-episode series has since been aired in more than 190 countries around the world, including the United States, and has appeared in two movies as well. You can see a promo image for the new series above [CBR].

DC puts the brakes on supposed Frank Cho Wonder Woman series

In last week’s Comics Relief, there was a quote from artist Frank Cho saying that a new Wonder Woman series was coming from him as writer/artist, and that DC Comics has all but approved it. This is after his leaving Wonder Woman as cover artist due to conflicts with writer Greg Rucka. He said as soon as Rucka was gone, DC would put out his Wonder Woman project.

Well, not so fast. In a statement to Newsarama, DC said there are “no current plans for a Wonder Woman/Frank Cho project.” That is despite Cho saying that they were “in negotiation” with the publisher for a new series. While I’m relieved a Cho-written and drawn Wonder Woman series is probably not going to happen (he’d probably indulge his tendency towards cheesecake way too much, which is fine for Bettie Page but not Diana), I still think his Wonder Woman covers were perfectly within the character’s guidelines, and he basically got fired for his other work. By making this premature announcement, time will tell if we ever see if Cho drawing a Wonder Woman series now. [Newsarama]

George Perez boycotting conventions in red states

George Pérez is one of the most legendary comic book artists of all time, known primarily for his work on Avengers,Justice League, New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and the successful reinvention of Wonder Woman in the mid ’80s. (He also happens to be yours truly’s favorite comics illustrator of all time). Pérez is a proud Puerto Rican-American, and as such has come out in protest of United States’ President-Elect Donald Trump by pledging not to attend any conventions or comic functions in any “Red States.” Pérez explains that he feels threatened by Trump’s statements and actions, for both himself, his wife, as well as his family and friends.

In a statement to Newsarama, Pérez said, “Mine is really a meek protest, but it is all I could think of. My actions won’t really cost anyone anything. No one will be hurt if I don’t come to conventions. In fact, I am the one who will lose a substantial source of income. I can live with that. My friends, my family and many of my fans deserve that much and so much more, from me.” For more on Pérez about his decision, head over to the following link: [Newsarama].

Deathstroke’s son Jericho make a (not so surprising) revelation

Speaking of George Pérez, some of his best known creations (together with writer Marv Wolfman) were mercenary Deathstroke, and his mute son Jericho, who was a member of the Teen Titans. Originally portrayed as a sensitive artist type, both Perez and Wolfman considered making him gay back in the day, but ultimately chose against it. Pérez once told the website Gay League, “While Marv and I did discuss the possibility of Joseph Wilson being gay, Marv decided that it was too much of a stereotype to have the sensitive, artistic, and wide-eyed character with arguably effeminate features be also homosexual.”

Well, that was the ’80s, and this is 2016. In the current DC RebirthDeathstroke series, Jericho is portrayed initially as being straight, announcing to his sister his impending marriage to a woman. But then — bombshell! — it turns out Jericho is bisexual, and has been having a relationship with Deathstroke’s armor designer, the superpowered (and much older) Dr. Ikon. Scandalous. It’ll be interesting to see how this is handled from now on, as media in all its forms really doesn’t know how to handle bisexuality at all. You can see the panel where the secret is revealed above [Bleeding Cool].

Canadian pulp hero Freelance gets a 2016 upgrade

Chances are you’ve never heard of 1940s pulp hero series Freelance. But now Canadian publisher Chapterhouse Comics is rebranding the character for a new generation. Thunderbolts writer Jim Zub is getting together with Andrew Wheeler and artist Vaneda Vireak for what they are calling “a modern update mixing Raiders of the Lost Ark, Stargate, and a bit of James Bond sexiness.”

So how is Freelance going to be updated for 2016? For starters, now he’s a gay man. Said writer Wheeler, “One of the ways we’re doing that is by placing a gay hero at the center of the story. There still aren’t many superhero comics or genre stories out there with gay leads, and that’s crazy. Chapterhouse is doing its part to change that, and they’re doing it with one of Canada’s oldest homegrown heroes. That makes a big statement, and is hugely important to me. There were no comics out there like this when I was a kid.” You can check out the cover for Freelance #1 above.

]]>THE BATMAN’s Joe Manganiello Talks His Role as Deathstrokehttp://nerdist.com/the-batmans-joe-manganiello-talks-his-role-as-deathstroke/
Wed, 09 Nov 2016 14:00:45 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=455660Most of us in America are pretty exhausted today, but we’re not too exhausted to do our job and share some movie news with you good folks. In today’s Movie Morsels, we’ve got the latest word on the next Batman solo film, courtesy of actor Joe Manganiello, as well as a behind-the-scenes video on the live-action Ghost in the Shell, new photos from Avengers: Infinity War and Power Rangers, and more!

The Batman

We’ve seen Batman battle a lot of his most iconic enemies in film and television, but we’ve never seen the Dark Knight take on one of the most iconic villains in the entire DC Universe: Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke the Terminator. Oh sure, ol’ sword-slinging Slade has become a fan-favorite foe of Oliver Queen on television’s Arrow, but wouldn’t you like to see him battle the most popular DC hero of all? Answer: sure, you would! So let’s all say a silent prayer of thanks that we have a quality, charismatic actor playing him in Ben Affleck’s The Batman. Joe Manganiello won quite a few fans through his roles on True Blood and Magic Mike, and now it looks like he’ll be doing the same when he makes his big-screen debut next year.

“When I met Ben,” Manganiello says, “we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role. We talked about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about. It’s going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman.”

The live-action Ghost in the Shell adaptation has drawn a lot of fire for what many perceive is the whitewashing of the manga/anime’s central character. But a new look at the film on TV’s Entertainment Tonight tries to show that there’s plenty of heart going into making it. In the following video, actress Scarlett Johansson talks about the lessons the film offers for her own daughter…

Brothers Joe and Anthony Russo are busy scouting locations for their next Marvel movie, the hugely anticipated Avengers: Infinity War. And because the directors are so generous to their fans, they’ve shared a photo of their latest locale on Instagram. Your guess is as good as mine as to where this could fit into the film’s story, which is so big it apparently includes most every single hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe…

I was a little too old when the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers were in their ’90s heyday to appreciate their multicolored costumed adventures. But no matter how old one is, there’s no denying that the team’s outfits in their upcoming big-screen reboot are, well, baller as all hell! Just take a look at this photo of their supersuits, as well as the suit of their archenemy Rita Repulsa, as played by Elizabeth Banks…

Finally today… No, I can’t believe that they’re making a third Now You See Me movie either. People must really, really, really like magicians, especially those who may or may not have genuine supernatural powers. Lionsgate has just signed on two screenwriters to tackle Jon M. Chu’s Now You See Me 3: Neil Widener and Gavin James, who are also scripting San Andreas 2 and Paramount’s Battle Of Alcatraz.

]]>Breaking Down Zack Snyder’s JUSTICE LEAGUE Footage!http://nerdist.com/breaking-down-zack-snyders-justice-league-footage/
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 22:00:36 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=446469Even though it’s still a year and some change away, Justice League production sure is having fun, fun, fun! As they’re wrapping up shooting in the UK, Zack Snyder shared a super-fun behind-the-scenes celebration reel to show everyone how not-dark the new film will be. Seriously, look at all those grins! This is not a dark, heavy movie, we swear. Overbearing smiles aside, we’ve spent all morning digging in and finding all the secrets hidden in the deep, dark crevices of the clip, and here’s what we’ve found!

First up, about twenty seconds in, it looks like we’ve got some moments in the remnants of Wayne Manor (note the W and the broken up bricks on the ground). So it would make sense that he’d restore the place so he can have somewhere to crash before The Batman. But will it be the official home base of the Justice League? We do see Batman bringing the team down in an elevator, sans cowl, but he might just be showing off. I mean, I would if I had a bat cave…

Out best guess is, however, that the Flying Fox will be their main chill zone. The BTS clip from Snyder shows a ton of hijinks on the Fox, which is coincidentally the same location we saw the Deathstroke footage shot. Later in the footage, we’ve got a bunch of mo-cap goons getting killed aboard the ship. Are these villains with the Terminator? Or, parademons, the movie’s main CG bad-guy fodder?

Speaking of surprising characters, are these two women catching a massive, falling CG object Amazonians or stuntwomen rehearsing? Our money’s on Amazonians, and I couldn’t be more excited. Then, we’ve got the dudes in jumpsuits getting knocked around, the guy in the pin-striped suit getting flung by a grappling hook. Most likely they’re just low-level goons for the JL to take out. But the biggest but also hyper-casual reveal of the day–Superman! Yep. Just hanging out all sorts of alive in the classic red and blue suit. Then shirtless a little later. So, yeaaaaah, he’s not dead anymore. We knew he’d be in the film, but we still don’t know exactly how he gets revived, so there’s that to look forward to. Plus, we might’ve gotten a peek at his makeshift memorial, covered in flowers behind a Metropolis PD barricade.

But what do you guys think? Did the BTS clip get you more or less psyched for Justice League? What’s happening with Superman and why is he so casual? Are the other JL members annoyed that Cyborg gets to rock pj’s every day? Let’s discuss!

]]>Ben Affleck Drops Deathstroke Details for THE BATMANhttp://nerdist.com/ben-affleck-drops-deathstroke-details-for-the-batman/
Mon, 03 Oct 2016 22:00:01 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=444797Ben Affleck‘s solo Batman film is moving forward pretty quickly. Earlier today, Affleck revealed that the much anticipated reboot will be called The Batman. Affleck also revealed a few of the reasons that perennial Teen Titans villain, Deathstroke, was chosen as The Batman‘s big bad. Which means today’s Nerdist News is lighting the Bat-Signal and examining the clues!

Via an interview with Collider, Affleck said, “I just had an instinctive feeling that [Deathstroke] would match up with [Batman] well…You know, I’m a big admirer of that character, especially in the New 52…and I thought that it could work.” He’s not wrong. Deathstroke has always been a formidable character, and he’s one of the few villains who can challenge Batman physically and mentally. New 52 Deathstroke has been more of an antihero than a villain, but somehow we doubt Batman’s next solo flick is going to dwell on Slade Wilson’s personal drama. And how does Deathstroke fit in with the previous rumors that The Batman would be the ultimate Batman movie?

Join Nerdist News host, and Arkham Asylum’s newest security chief, Jessica Chobot, as she lays out our theory. Which, by the way, is typed out here if you don’t want spoilers: Do you remember the end credits scene of Suicide Squad that hinted at tension between Bruce Wayne and Amanda Waller and the fact that several members of the Squad have history with Gotham’s Dark Knight? What if Deathstroke is leading a new government-sanctioned team of Batman’s greatest villains to take him down once-and-for-all? That could be an even more amoral version of the Suicide Squad.

There are also some reasons to suspect that Deathstroke is working with Lex Luthor in the firstJustice League film, assuming his appearance there will be more than just a tag scene. However, the possibilities are very exciting!

How do you think that Deathstroke will be used in The Batman? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

]]>Zack Snyder Reveals Deathstroke Will Appear in JUSTICE LEAGUEhttp://nerdist.com/zack-snyder-reveals-deathstroke-will-appear-in-justice-league/
Fri, 30 Sep 2016 12:00:03 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=443868It looks like one of the DC Universe’s all-time greatest villains, the mercenary Deathstroke, may be making his big-screen debut even sooner than we thought, as Zack Snyder teases in the latest Justice League behind-the-scenes photo. Also in today’s Movie Morsels, a new Blade Runner 2 video, yet another Doctor Strange motion poster, and more!

Justice League

I’m much more excited about Joe Manganiello playing Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, than I am about almost any other actor-character pairing in the upcoming Justice League movie. Manganiello, as he’s proved in films like Magic Mike, is by far the most charismatic cast member announced for the project, with the possible exception of J.K. Simmons as James Gorden. Eh, what’s that? You didn’t know Deathstroke was going to be in the film? Well, if he’s not, than director Zack Snyder has even more explaining to do than usual. Snyder shared the following pic of himself at the drawing table during production. And look who shows up on his tablet…

Hey, did you ever watch a Ryan Gosling and/or Harrison Ford movie and think to yourself, “Man, I really wish I could hang out with those guys. I bet Ford isn’t nearly as cranky in person…” Well, now you have a chance! Because the latest Omaze charity video, hosted by Gosling and featuring his curmudgeonly Blade Runner 2 co-star, explains how you can visit the set of the much-talked-about sequel and pal around with two generations’ worth of screen heartthrobs…

Another day, another Doctor Strange motion poster… But wait! This isn’t like the character posters we’ve been seeing lately from the film. Nope, this one actually tries to replicate Strange’s reality-bending mystic powers themselves.

Johnny Depp is gearing up to do goofy Johnny Depp things again as Ratchett, one of several passengers/murder suspects in the next big screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery thriller Murder on the Orient Express. Depp joins Kenneth Branagh, who directs and plays French sleuth Hercule Poirot, as well as Michelle Pfeiffer (as fellow passenger Mrs. Hubbard) and Daisy Ridley (as Mary Debenham). Can one stately luxury liner possibly be a big enough piece scenery for Depp and Branagh’s oversized thespian chompers to chew apart?!

Finally today… In case you missed it, we reported on the fantastic new Indiana Jones cartoon short fan film that has us on our knees praying that Lucasfilm/Disney/God in Heaven Above sees fit to grant its creators the opportunity to make an entire animated feature and/or TV series about the word’s most popular globetrotting archaeologist. Now that really would be fortune and glory… Check out the short here.

]]>Gal Gadot Gets Funny in First KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES Cliphttp://nerdist.com/gal-gadot-gets-funny-in-first-keeping-up-with-the-joneses-clip/
Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:07:07 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=443556Do we really have to wait until June before we can see Gal Gadot star as Princess Diana in the first ever big screen Wonder Woman movie? *Sigh* Okay, fine. At least we have Gadot’s next film, Keeping Up with the Joneses, to tide us over when it opens next month, and we’ve got a clip from it in today’s Movie Morsels! Plus, three new Doctor Strange motion posters, the latest on Mary Poppins Returns from star Lin-Manuel Miranda, and much more…

Keeping Up with the Joneses

While Gal Gadot’s star has risen rapidly in the last few years, thanks to her roles in the Fast and Furious movies and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we really haven’t had a chance to see the Israeli model-turned-actress do comedy. But that changes with the October 21st release of Keeping Up with the Joneses, in which Gadot stars alongside such comedy heavyweights as Zach Galifianakis and Jon Hamm. The first clip from the film has just been released, and it features the very tall Gadot demonstrating a sly sense of humor opposite the considerably shorter but no less amusing Isla Fisher…

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth! Yesterday Marvel unveiled the motion posters for Doctor Strange‘s Stephen Strange, Christine Palmer, and Wong. Now the film’s main cast is complete with the introduction of three additional posters, all of them equally magical and just as packed with star power. Check out Chiwetel Ejiofor’s mystical Karl Mordo, Tilda Swinton’s stately Ancient One, and Mads Mikkelsen’s villainous Kaecilius…

Step in time! To the delight of squealing theater kids everywhere, the internet’s new boyfriend Lin-Manuel Miranda is continuing the relationship he began with Disney when he wrote some of the songs for Moana by starring in Mary Poppins Returns and working on the studio’s live-action The Little Mermaid. In a new interview with Variety, Miranda talks about both of the latter films…

“It’s straight up a sequel,” says Miranda of Poppins. “Michael and Jane Banks have grown up, and they find themselves in their own spot, and Mary Poppins comes back to take care of Michael’s kids. I play a lamplighter named Jack who sort of grew up apprenticing to Bert [pictured above in the original Mary Poppins, as played by Dick Van Dyke]. So I know if Mary Poppins shows up, it’s gonna get awesome. I perform that function in the movie, of saying: ‘Y’all don’t know about Mary Poppins. When Mary’s around, cool sh– happens.’”

Regarding his fondness for The Little Mermaid, the new version of which will feature new songs he’s co-writing with Alan Menken, Miranda explains… “I feel really lucky that I was a kid when they went on that run of animated musicals, starting with The Little Mermaid. Not just animated movies, animated musicals. Howard Ashman [the late writer-lyricist of Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin] figured out, ‘Oh my God, I can make even better musicals under this system than I can Off Broadway.’ I have never been more transported in my life than when ‘Under the Sea’ first started when I was nine years old. I said, ‘I cannot believe what is happening to me,’ and that feeling of vertigo in a movie theater. Something I’ve been chasing ever since. To be part of that legacy, and then Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King, it was just this incredible run that happened when I was ages 9 to 14. It’s very formative to me. I’m thrilled to be a part of that tradition.”

Finally today, actor, heartthrob and all-around nice guy Joe Manganiello is, like a lot of superhero movie stars these days, proudly showing off for fans the amount of research he’s doing as he takes on the role of Deathstroke in Ben Affleck’s solo Batman movie. The images he’s sharing on social media aren’t quite as adorable as the photo Brie Larson recently shared of herself researching Captain Marvel, but I have to smile when I imagine that Manganiello’s wife Sofia Vergara probably had a few choice words to say to him in Spanish when he dumped all of the comics and swag pictured below on their living room coffee table and bed…

]]>New LUKE CAGE Trailer, Nerdist’s Kyle Hill Hosting New MYTHBUSTERS, and Morehttp://nerdist.com/new-luke-cage-trailer-nerdists-kyle-hill-hosting-new-mythbusters-and-more/
Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:30:32 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=442908September 30 is almost here, and that’s an important date to remember if you’re a Marvel. That’s when Luke Cage’s 13-episode first season drops on Netflix. See a new trailer for the superhero drama in today’s TV-Cap, see a Deathstroke return tease for Arrow, learn two new episode titles for Sherlock, and more.

Save Harlem. Daredevil’s been motivated by cleaning up Hell’s Kitchen, and Luke Cage is trying to protect Harlem’s streets and heart. A new trailer for the series shows off more of the cast, and how they figure into the battle to keep Harlem intact. [Nerdist]

Super Streaming. If you’ve been wanting to binge Smallville, Hulu’s here to help. The 10-season series about a young Clark Kent will be available to stream for the first time as of October 1. [IGN]

To the Skies. Superman will fly alongside Supergirl in a live-action TV series soon enough. Yeah, we’re kind of spoiled, aren’t we? The Man of Steel is coming to the season two premiere of Supergirl on October 10, and you can see a tease of what it will be like in the above clip. I can’t stop smiling. I love the “Great Caesar’s ghost!” reference. [Entertainment Weekly]

Panel It Up.Westworld is coming to New York Comic Con. HBO will screen the second episode on October 9 at 3:30p.m. and then host a Q&A with the showrunners and select cast members. [Image: HBO]

Syfy Goes Spooky. Syfy is once again throwing a monthlong party for the best holiday of the year with their 31 Days of Halloween Celebration. The lineup features original Syfy films, the debut of the anthology series Channel Zero: Candle Cove on October 11 (see the trailer above), and classics such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They’ll pair all of this with horror movie trivia, interviews at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, and more. Get the full schedule on Syfy.

Everybody’s Back.Arrow’s 100th episode is bringing back everyone, apparently: Jamey Sheridan as Robert Queen, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, and Deathstroke. Stephen Amell made the reveal on Twitter, and this pic of him on a park bench with Deathstroke looks like a terrific meet-cute moment. [CBR]

Switching Roles. Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni is no longer supervising director for Star Wars Rebels. Justin Ridge has stepped up and into the role, leaving Filoni more time to oversee other animated projects and invest in the story and writing on Rebels. Find out why why this is a good thing right this way.

The Game Is Afoot. BBC has dropped the titles for the first two episodes of series four of Sherlock, and it’s time to start guessing. What do “The Six Thatchers” and “The Lying Detective” mean? We’ll find out for sure when the show returns in 2017, but for now, read Rachael’s speculation.

Host with the Most.MythBusters: The Search has named their host, and it’s none other than Nerdist’s own Kyle Hill. Yes, we’re thrilled and excited and so very proud. The Science Channel’s The Search is all about looking for scientists and testing their “killer build skills, science smarts, and nerves of steel” to see who will become the next MythBusters. Learn more here at Nerdist.

One Day Soon? The cast and crew of One-Punch Man appeared at his own Fall Festival and dropped some news: the anime is getting a second season and a mobile game app sometime in 2017. Snazzy, huh? We don’t know any specifics or release dates yet, but for now, know it’s coming. [Nerdist]

A Reunion. The Will & Grace cast has reunited for the first time since the comedy ended, and the current presidential election brought them together. They filmed a new 10 minute scene, and it was released on the YouTube channel Vote Honey just before Monday’s presidential debate. This cast very much still has it, and now I want more Will & Grace. [TVLine]

Cartoons and Villains. Fox’s new comedy Son of Zorn recently debuted, but did the comedy blending animation and live-action nail it? Read Derrick’s review. Then, travel to Gotham City to read Sydney’s recap of the latest episode of Gotham–it featured the new, rather grown up version of Poison Ivy.

Are you excited to about the brief Will & Grace reunion? And how awesome is Kyle Hill? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Featured Image: Netflix

]]>Joe Manganiello is Deathstroke in Ben Affleck’s BATMANhttp://nerdist.com/joe-manganiello-confirmed-to-play-deathstroke-in-ben-afflecks-batman/
Thu, 08 Sep 2016 17:52:33 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=437708We talked about it last week, and rumors had been flying around since footage was tweeted out by director-star Ben Affleck, but it is now official: Deathstroke is a villain in The Batman, and he’ll be played by Magic Mike and True Blood star Joe Manganiello.

The news comes from a very reputable source — DC Comics president and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, who is also executive producing and overseeing all of the DC Extended Universe movies and writing a few himself. So, like, when he says it, it’s for real. He told The Wall Street Journal that Manganiello would be playing the master assassin in the first solo film for Affleck’s Batman — which will be co-written by Affleck and Johns and directed by Affleck — but wouldn’t comment on whether Deathstroke will make a cameo in Justice League, which is out next year and currently filming in London, nor when we can expect to see The Batman in theaters, though it’s unlikely to be before 2018 at the earliest.

So, we can now say with confidence that the man behind the mask in Affleck’s footage tweet is Manganiello, and he’s a pretty good choice for the role. Big, imposing, and with a definite air of menace.

Deathstroke began life in comics in New Teen Titans #2 back in 1980 and has since become a recurring villain for the Teen Titans, Green Arrow, and other DC Comics heroes. He’s sort of an all-purpose baddie who sometimes works on the side of the angels, but only when it suits him. Deathstroke appeared in live action form on the CW’s Arrow as a recurring character in season one and the main villain of season two, played by another beefy handsome actor, Manu Bennett.

Are you stoked to see Manganiello take on the role of Slade Wilson opposite Batfleck? Let us know in the comments below!

Manganiello told us his favorite songs to strip to right here!

]]>The Differences Between DEADPOOL and DEATHSTROKE, as Explained by Rob Liefeldhttp://nerdist.com/the-differences-between-deadpool-and-deathstroke-as-explained-by-rob-liefeld/
Sun, 04 Sep 2016 00:00:16 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=436780It’s an age-old debate, as famous as the chicken vs. the egg, dogs vs. cats, pizza vs… well pizza beats everything. Nonetheless, comic book fans have been arguing about Deathstroke and Deadpool since the characters made their debuts in the ’90s. Some have made the outrageous claim that Deadpool, a.k.a. Wade Wilson, is nothing but a cheap knockoff of Deathstroke, a.k.a. Slade Wilson. Preposterous! Now, Deadpool fans finally have an advocate in Rob Liefeld, the character’s co-creator, who discusses the differences between the two characters in this new Nerdy Pop video, found on CBR.

The differences mentioned are mostly visual, such as Deathstroke’s… pirate costume? Yet there are many key distinctions not mentioned. For one, Deadpool just had the most successful R-rated film of all time, and Deathstroke has yet to appear in a feature film and probably won’t for quite a…oh.

Well, the main difference is that Deadpool is a fourth-wall breaking, super-cancer having, Merc With A Mouth–while Deathstroke is a much more serious character. Both are incredibly popular characters, but Deadpool has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity in the past few years, with Marvel Comics pushing the character heavily. Perhaps, if Deathstroke truly will appear in a future Batman or Justice League film, he will experience a similar resurgence. Though he has appeared on TV in both Teen Titans and Arrow, the big screen is another level.

A self-proclaimed fan of the character, Rob Liefeld would likely appreciate Deathstroke’s success, especially if it means a little healthy competition with Deadpool.

What do you think? How different are Deathstroke and Deadpool? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Image: Nerdy Pop

And since we’re talking about Deathstroke…

]]>Is Deathstroke the Villain of JUSTICE LEAGUE or THE BATMAN?http://nerdist.com/is-deathstroke-the-villain-of-justice-league-or-the-batman/
Mon, 29 Aug 2016 22:00:54 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=435304We may be a few years away from Ben Affleck‘s standalone Batman film, but the writer and director just dropped a very intriguing tease about one of the DC Universe’s best bad guys: Deathstroke the Terminator! Earlier today, Affleck tweeted out some footage of what Deathstroke may look like in the DC Extended Universe, which has raised an intriguing question: Is Deathstroke a previously unannounced villain in Justice League or will he menace the Dark Knight in The Batman? Light up the Batsignal, today’s Nerdist News is on the case!

The Wrap is reporting that Batfleck will take on Deathstroke solo in his own movie, which appears to contradict a report by Birth.Movies.Death that indicated that nearly all of Batman’s villains would be featured in some way. According to Nerdist News host and nobody’s sidekick, Jessica Chobot, it’s still possible that both reports could be true, with Deathstroke leading an army of villains against Bruce Wayne’s alterego.

But why Deathstroke? Despite what the first two seasons of Arrow would have you believe, Slade Wilson’s superpowered mercenary has deeper ties to the Teen Titans than he does to the hero of Gotham City. In a way, Deathstroke would be a better choice for a Nightwing solo movie, given their shared history. However, Deathstroke would give Affleck’s newest cinematic Caped Crusader something that most of his predecessors didn’t get: an adversary who can challenge Batman physically and mentally. If there’s anyone who can give Batman the fight of his life, it’s Deathstroke!

What do you think about Deathstroke as Batman’s next big screen adversary? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

]]>Ben Affleck Tweets Surprise Footage of DC Villain Deathstrokehttp://nerdist.com/ben-affleck-deathstroke-dc-comics-villain-footage-justice-league/
Mon, 29 Aug 2016 15:50:16 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=435205Exactly what Ben Affleck will do with the DC Extended Universe is yet to be seen. Though the franchise’s proverbial ringleader Zack Snyder, whose Man of Steeland Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice represented a singularly serious vision, will return to helm Justice League, DC has already taken efforts to diversify its vision. David Ayer’s Suicide Squad was a bit more stylish, albeit a good deal more scattered, than Snyder’s titles. Our first look at Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman bred optimism over an earthy and earnest character. The Flashdirector Rick Famuyiwa’s past efforts, notably 2015’s Dope, suggests an energy befitting of the meta-human speedster. But of course, the director we’ve all got our eyes and minds on is Ben Affleck, who may have garnered a great deal of good will with his revelation that Deathstroke is coming to the DCEU.

Just this morning, Affleck tweeted some sub-screen caliber footage of a metal-suited character than fans immediately recognized as Deathstroke, the DC Universe’s master assassin and meanest mercenary:

It stands to reason that the video come from the set of Justice League (as such is the only DC film currently in production), though The Wrapfollowed the tweet with a report that Deathstroke would serve as the main villain of Affleck’s Batman movie. If that is, in fact, the case, then it may follow the lines of the characters initial 1991 encounter in the “City of Assassins” storyline from Marv Wolfman and Steve Erwin’s Deathstroke: The Terminator series. The storyline saw Deathstroke trying to hunt down another assassin who was knocking off Gotham’s mob bosses, and Batman not taking too kindly to wanted murderers running around his city. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go particularly well for Batman.

Deathstroke was created in 1980 by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, first appearing in New Teen Titans #2 as a character simply named The Terminator who had taken a contract the murder the Teen Titans. The advent of James Cameron’s mega-popular movie of the same name prompted DC to retitle their masked mercenary to avoid any confusion between the two characters. Over the years, Deathstroke would be a constant antagonist to the Teen Titans and Green Arrow, in particular, although he has battled the likes of the Justice League and Batman too. The subject of covert military experiments, Deathstroke has superhuman reflexes, strength, endurance, speed, as well as mastery of all manner of weaponry, martial arts, and military tactics. In short, he’s someone who could definitely give The Dark Knight a run for his money.

But even if this glance at Deathstroke is one from the set of the next Snyder-helmed picture, its delivery by Affleck is significant enough to communicate his relationship with DC and its fans. We know Affleck can direct a good picture; what’s more pertinent here is the fact that he can connect with an audience. Hiccups and backlash aside, Affleck has maintained a profound direct connection to the viewing public throughout his years as a star. It’s the sort of connection that many DC fans are wishing their movies would strive harder to foster. If a move like this suggests anything, it’s that Affleck is already taking those steps.

Are you looking forward to Affleck’s Batman film? Let us know!

Image: DC Comics

]]>Marvel’s INVISIBLE WOMAN May Be Getting Her Own Solo Comic Serieshttp://nerdist.com/marvels-invisible-woman-may-be-getting-her-own-solo-comic-series/
Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:00:01 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=432202Wednesday means it’s New Comic Book Day, and it’s also time for your mid-week edition of Comics Relief. To start things off, we’ve got possible news on one of Marvel’s leading ladies finally getting a solo series all her own.

Is Fantastic Four’s Invisible Woman about to get a solo series?

Marvel’s less than cozy relationship with Fox, who own the film rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, reportedly led the publisher to cancel the Fantastic Four comic, the series that the entire Marvel Universe is practically built on, leaving the publisher without an FF comic for the first time in over fifty years. Last year’s Secret Wars event was essentially a swan song to the iconic team. But could one member of the group be making a comeback soon…and maybe even getting a solo series?

Marvel Comics recently registered trademarks for series like Inhumans vs X-Men, World Of Wakanda, Solo, Bullseye, Great Lakes Avengers and more – all comics that Marvel have officially announced as coming soon in the very near future. But among those titles they have also registered Invisible Woman as a title for comics as well. This can’t be a coincidence. The end of Secret Wars saw Reed and Susan Richards take off into the multiverse with their kids, but we all knew they’d be back someday. If an Invisible Woman solo series does happen, it would be the first time Sue Richards has ever led a title on her own. [Bleeding Cool]

Valiant celebrates 1 million copies sold of X-O Manowar

Valiant Comics are currently celebrating over 1 million copies sold of their signature title, X-O Manowar. But in today’s market, how on Earth did they sell a million copies of the series? Here’s how the math gets creative: To reach this figure, the publisher is counting single-issue sales for the 49 issues of the 2012 launched series released so far, both in print and digitally, and counting all the foreign editions as well. That would work out to an average sales of 20,408 per issue. Creative math or not, congrats to Valiant for reaching that number.

Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani is scheduled to be at the Richmond, VA printing plant that will print this millionth copy of X-O Manowar this week, issue #49. The Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) will be on-hand to to grade and certify the book, which will then be on-display at Valiant’s booth at Baltimore Comic Con later this month. Fans who bring a copy of X-O Manowar #49 can get theirs embossed with a “Valiant 1,000,000th copy seal.” [Newsarama]

Civil War II gets an extra issue, plus gets delayed

Civil War II is going to take a little longer to finish up than originally planned, as series writer Brian Michael Bendis has announced that Civil War II will now be extended to eight issues, but there’s no set release date for issue 8 quite yet. The fifth issue will now be released on September 24; while Civil War II #6 is set for October 5.

As for the reason for the delay, apparently Civil War II artist David Marquez recently had a child and he wasn’t able to devote his full attention to the comic. “David [Marquez] has been handing in about a page a day for the last couple of weeks so we’re getting back on track,” wrote Bendis, “So much so that Marvel greenlit an 8th issue for us. I came up with a better ending but needed the pages. Very grateful that they let us do our thing.” For more info on the extended Civil War II, be sure to read our full story by clicking on the following link: [Nerdist]

Deathstroke Rebirth to give us new version of classic Teen Titans story ‘The Judas Contract’

Deathstroke is getting theRebirth treatment soon, and along with that certain details of his revised past are going to be cleared up, including one of his most famous early stories, the Teen Titans saga “The Judas Contract.” That story is to the Titans what “The Dark Phoenix Saga” is to the X-Men. In that storyline, the metahuman teenager Terra was a mole within the Titans team, sent by Deathstroke to infiltrate and destroy them from within. “The Judas Contract” also introduced the world to Deathstroke’s son, the superhero Jericho. It’s a pretty defining story for the character and the Titans as well….but did it even happen in the current Rebirth continuity?

According to Deathstroke writer Christopher Priest, we are about to find out. In a recent interview, Priest said “Once we move past issue 12 or so, then we’re doing a big crossover with the ‘Titans’ book. And we’re doing a JJ Abrams-ing of ‘The Judas Contract.’ The original storyline that launched Deathstroke and is like the definitive Teen Titans storyline from Marv (Wolfman) and George Perez.” Priest added “We’re kind of building a firewall around that story to say, ‘Yes, this absolutely happened.’ We are not dismissing that or ret-conning that, but as JJ Abrams did with Star Trek, we are now telling our own alternate version of it.” [CBR]

Diamond planning to hand out 2 million comics for Halloween ComicsFest

This year’s Halloween ComicsFest — which is kind of like Free Comic Book Day, only in October — is entering its fifth year, and event promoters Diamond Comics Distributors are planning to hand out over 2 million Halloween-themed comic books this October 29. 32 titles will be handed out including Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader: Doctor Aphra #1, and Spidey #1; DC Comics’ DC Super Hero Girls#1, Dark Horse Comics’ Harrow County #1; and IDW Publishing’s My Little Pony: The Haunted Dungeon and a lots more. For more info, be sure to click on the following link: [Newsarama]

Women now make up 40% of Marvel’s readership

Once upon a time, you’d be hard pressed to witness a living, breathing female in a comic book shop. It’s not that female readers didn’t exist, they just knew how to keep their comics love on the DL. Times have sure changed though; in an interview with ICv2, Marvel’s David Gabriel said, “From talking to retailers and looking at our titles, we’re probably up to at least 40% female, which eight years ago might have been 10%. And 15 years ago might have been nothing, while they were all buying manga. So there’s really been a shift, which is great, and it even could be even higher than 40%.” I’d say this is a pretty cool development. [ICv2 via Comics Beat]

]]>Comics Relief: SPIDER-MAN: DEAD NO MORE Teasers Offer Big Revealshttp://nerdist.com/comics-relief-spider-man-dead-no-more-teasers-offer-big-reveals/
Sat, 02 Apr 2016 01:30:17 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=386584Weclome comics fans, one and all, to your weekend edition of Comics Relief. Lots of news coming out of last week’s WonderCon and more, so read on for all the details…

DC And Mondo Team Up For The Dark Knight Inspired Print For Emerald City Comic-Con

It’s been eight years since Warner Brothers released Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight in theaters (yes, eight years. We are that old) and it’s still the benchmark by which all other superhero movies are judged. Now at the upcoming Emerald City Comic Con, comics artist Jock is releasing a Dark Knight print, via the good folks at Mondo. Jock has quite a history with Batman having drawn the character in the pages of Detective Comics and elsewhere. Emerald City Comic Con comes to Seattle on April 7-10. You can check out a preview of the print below: [Comics Alliance]

Marvel Brings Out Two More Spider-Man: Dead No More Teaser Images

In this week’s previous Comics Relief, we showed you Marvel’s first four teasers for the upcoming Spider-Man storyline Dead No More, which features villains and supporting characters from Spidey’s history coming back from the grave. Now Marvel has released what seem to be the two final ones — and they are exactly who you’d expect them to be: Peter Parker’s long dead girlfriend Gwen Stacy, and his more recently dead arch villain Doc Ock—who spent a year in Peter Parker’s body as the Superior Spider-Man. You can see both new images below. [CBR]

Rumor: Could Gerard Way Become The Figurehead Behind DC’s Vertigo Line?

Although DC made the majority of the big Rebirth announcements at WonderCon last weekend, rumor has it they are still holding one of their bigger ones for the upcoming Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle. It seems My Chemical Romance singer (andUmbrella Academy writer) Gerard Way is being tapped by DC Vertigo into what’s being described as “a kind of showrunner/curator position” over a number of titles.

According to the rumor, his position is said to be described as “Not quite an editor, but not just a figurehead either.” Vertigo has not had a breakout hit in many years, arguably since Fables. Could this be just the thing that Vertigo needs? And could the long rumored relaunch ofDoom Patrol from Way and Becky Cloonan be leading the pack? Hopefully we’ll know more soon. [Bleeding Cool]

MAD Magazine Artist Al Jaffee Get The Guinness World Record For Longest Career As A Comics Artist

Here’s a story that’ll give you the warm fuzzies: MAD Magazine cartoonist Al Jaffee officially now holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career of a comics artist, clocking in at more than 73 years. Jaffee was presented with the certificate, and a proclamation from the New York City Mayor’s Office declaring March 30 as “Al Jaffee Day” in a celebration this week to celebrate the artist’s 95th birthday.

DC Entertainment also went the extra mile by presenting Al with some of his original drawings from the 1960s, which were recently discovered in the DC Comics archives, framed just for the event and accompanied by a letter from DCE President Diane Nelson. [DC Entertainment]

Artist ACO Previews New Deathstroke Designs

The mercenary Deathstroke, who debuted in the pages of Teen Titans in the early 80’s, was one of the breakout characters of the era, and was the inspiration for Deadpool over at Marvel. But his look — much like a lot of the looks in the New 52 — seemed very stuck in the ’90s. Now former Midnighter artist ACO has redesigned Deathstroke for DC’s upcoming Rebirth, and shared his designs for Slade Wilson and his daughter Rose, which you can see below. [Comics Alliance]

Random House Announces YA Novels Based on DC Comics Icons

DC Comics is working with Random House to publish a series of young adult novels featuring their biggest characters teamed up with some of the biggest YA authors in the field. The first book out of the gate will be Wonder Woman, which will be written by Leigh Bardugo, and is slated for an August 2017 release. Batman, written by Legend and Young Elites trilogy author Marie Lu will follow. Newberry Medal winner Matt de la Peña (The Living, Ball Don’t Lie) is set to take on Superman, and Throne of Glass author Sarah J. Maas will write Catwoman. [EW]

Latest Groupees Bundle Features Archie And Benefits CBLDF

Attention Riverdale fans: Right now, Groupees is offering a huge bundle of Archie books that includes the recently rebooted Archie and Jughead titles, the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the Dark Circle line, Mega Man, Sonic Boom, and more. There are some forty books offered for $20, and this particular bundle benefits the CBLDF. You can get the latest Archie Bundle by clicking on the following link: [Groupees]

What do you think of this week’s comics news? Let us know.

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Images: DC Comics / Marvel Comics / Archie Comics

]]>Comics Relief: Big Changes Coming for BATMANhttp://nerdist.com/comics-relief-big-changes-coming-for-batman/
Thu, 28 Jan 2016 03:00:34 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=360330It’s Wednesday, which means two things: there’s a brand new Pull List and it’s time for your midweek Comics Relief! Today we’ve got LOTS of DC and Marvel news, plus some great comics get honored by GLAAD. First off, it looks like the Batman books are about to get a shake-up. Read on for the full scoop…

Is Scott Snyder leaving Batman for Detective Comics?

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run on Batman has been one of the greatest in the character’s 75 year history. But with Greg Capullo taking a Bat-break soon, and with DC Rebirth happening, it seems Scott Snyder will be leaving the Batman title too — but not the character. Right now, rumor has it that he’ll be headlining the relaunch of Detective Comics. Also rumored is that Batman is becoming bi-monthly this summer.

According to the original report, Detective Comics will remain a monthly title, and “the decision to switch books is more likely to be remove Snyder from the event driven nature of some modern comics and of the pressure of writing the lead Batbook, and DC’s bestselling title. He will be more able to do as he pleases with he character.”

I imagine we’ll know more once we know what the heck Rebirth actually entails. [Bleeding Cool]

Whatever DC’s “Rebirth” is, artist Ethan Van Sciver is part of it

On the subject of this Rebirth thing, last week in Comics Relief we talked about the upcoming “DC Rebirth” teased by the company, but truth be told, we still don’t really know what it is. Reboot? Relaunch? Both? The first shred of any news since the teaser image was that artist Ethan Van Sciver would be joining the project…whatever the project might end up being.

In fact, DC’s Geoff Johns said on Twitter that it wouldn’t really be a DC “Rebirth” without Van Sciver involved, referring to his artistic contributions to both Green Lantern: Rebirth and Flash: Rebirth(you can see both Tweets above). Now, both of those series brought back long dead characters to the DCU…could this signal the actual rebith of the old DC Universe? Probably not, but an old schol fanboy like me can dream. And speaking of Geoff Johns…

Jim Lee’s Marvel-ous Birthday Gift to Geoff Johns

In a loving gesture that is sure to annoy the corporate heads at Warner Brothers, DC co-publisher Jim Lee gave his buddy, DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns, a rather cool birthday present: a drawing of Colossus of the X-Men. Apparently, Peter Rasputin is Johns’ favorite Marvel hero, and Jim Lee is no stranger to the X-Men, having been one of the most popular artists ever to draw the team. Johns shared an image of the gift on Instagram, and you just know it had to bother someone above their pay grade that two of the highest ups at DC Comics were publicly sharing their love for a Marvel hero. You can see the cool drawing from Jim Lee below: [Comic Book Resources]

“Dead No More” is a Spidey Event

Last week, we told you about Marvel’s “Dead No More” teaser, heavily suggesting the resurrection of a beloved character. Now Marvel has released a second “Dead No More” teaser, this time covered in webbing. Ok, so we know that it’s a Spider-Mancharacter who’s coming back from the dead now. But who the heck is it? Could it be Gwen Stacy? Uncle Ben even? (Let’s hope not). Check out the new teaser below: [Comic Book]

Lumberjanes, Wicked + Divine nominated for GLAAD Media Awards

GLAAD have announced the nominees for their annual Media Awards, including a category for “Outstanding Comic Book.” The media awards exist to honor the “fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and issues that affect their lives.” The 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards will be given out in April 2016 ceremony to be aired on LOGO.

Marvel teams with Wounded Warrior Project with Venom: Space Knight

Peter Parker’s former bully (and US Armed Forces vet) Flash Thompson found a new lease on life when he bonded with the Venom symbiote and became the headliner of the ongoing Venom: Space Knightseries. Now in a story from writer Robbie Thompson and artist Ariel Olivetti, Flash will be shown learning to walk with prosthetic legs. The story has been developed by Marvel in consultation with the service member support organization Wounded Warrior Project.

WWP spokesman Dan Nevins acted as consultant on the story. Much like Flash, Nevins is a veteran and a double amputee. In a press release from the publisher, Nevins said, “While the story itself is clearly sci-fi/fantasy, this storyline will bring awareness to the very real struggle of the obvious and not-so-obvious challenges in having lost limbs in combat, and to ultimately showcase the fortitude and resilience of the warriors Flash Thompson represents.”

The story begins in Venom: Space Knight #3, on sale this week. [Comics Alliance]

George Perez shows off Deadpool/Deathstroke mashup art

Marvel’s Deadpool and DC’s Deathstroke have always had their share of similarities, but what few fans these days realize is that Deadpool was created by artist Rob Liefeld as a deliberate homage to Deathstroke, who in turn was created by George Perez in an early issue of The New Teen Titans. Aside from just the visual look of the character and the fact that they are both mercenaries, Deadpool’s name of Wade Wilson was a rather on-the-nose nod to Deathstroke’s Slade Wilson.

Now Deathstroke co-creator George Perez has shared an image he drew at a convention a few years back of a half-Deadpool/half Deathsroke hybrid, and you can see the similarity between both characters better than ever before. Maybe if Marvel and DC ever do the whole “Amalgam Comics” mash-up thing again? Anyone remember that besides me? [Bleeding Cool]

IMAGES: DC Comics / Marvel Comics / BOOM Studios

]]>Preview: It’s Robin vs. Deathstroke in BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT – GENESIS #2http://nerdist.com/dc-comics-robin-vs-deathstroke-in-batman-arkham-knight-genesis-2-preview/
Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:33:09 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=305770Never cross a Boy Wonder. Thoug Robin seems to have a particularly tough go of it in Gotham City, Batman’s sidekick can still pack a punch. And that’s exactly what he’s doing in the opening pages of Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #2. The prequel comic to this summer’s hit game Batman: Arkham Knight made a splash with its debut with a combination of brutal beatdowns and dynamic storytelling, and issue #2 proves that it wasn’t a flash in the pan.

Writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Alison Borges work together to create a grisly ballet of thundering blows and unfettered fisticuffs as Robin battles it out with Deathstroke. Add in a hearty helping of Nightwing, Arkham Knight, and the Scarecrow and you have a must-read second issue. So make like the Arkham Knight and skulk your way down to our gallery below to get a sneak peek at DC Comics’ Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #2.

Here’s the synopsis:

“In a story spawned by the smash-hit game of the summer, Batman: Arkham Knight, the origin of the enigmatic Arkham Knight continues! Don’t miss our stunning second issue, the details of which are too hot for solicits! Need we say more?”

Batman: Arkham Knight — Genesis #2 is available on September 16.

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Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author or 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. You can follow him on Twitter.

]]>Preview: DEATHSTROKE #9 is Packed with Death, Destruction, and Decapitationhttp://nerdist.com/preview-deathstroke-9-is-packed-with-death-destruction-and-decapitation/
Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:00:48 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=295608All eyes may be on Deadpool lately, but Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth would never have existed if it weren’t for DC Comics’ resident sword-wielding badass, Deathstroke, a.k.a. Slade Wilson. In his ongoing series, Deathstroke has been making like the Blues Brothers, which is to say he’s on a mission from God. Excuse me, I meant he’s on a mission to kill a god. More specifically, he is on a mission to kill the Titan Iapetus. However, like all best-laid plans, Deathstroke soon found himself plunged into the depths of hell alongside Wonder Woman. Though the unlikely duo clawed their way back to Themyscira, Iapetus and his hordes are cutting a bloody swath through the Amazons. Can Deathstroke and Wonder Woman save the day or is this the end for the residents of Paradise Island? Does Slade really know how to use the God-Killer Sword? And what’s that about Superman entering the fray? Find out in our exclusive preview of DC Comics’ Deathstroke #9, written by James Bonny and Tony S. Daniel, and illustrated by Sandu Florea and Daniel. Plus there’s even a sweet DC Bombshells cover from Emanuela Lupacchino for good measure!

]]>This Custom Skull Art is to Die Forhttp://nerdist.com/this-custom-skull-art-is-to-die-for/
Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:00:29 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=275331We’ve all got that niece or nephew who’s super goth, or that brother or uncle who is just way into death metal, or had that lifetime subscription to Fangoria magazine. Well, now there’s the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for them, if you’ve got the money that is.

An Australian artist who goes by the name ‘Andy’ (no last name given) and who runs a website called Jack of the Dust has created a series of decorated skulls that are jaw-droppingly beautiful, each intricately designed and painted, and many based on pop culture icons like Iron Man, Batman, Darth Maul, Freddy Krueger, the T-800 from the Terminator franchise, and many, many others.

According to the site, all the pieces are supposedly “based on a premium European-grade PVC plastic human anatomy skull, moulded off a real human skull.” You know, in case you were worried they were the real thing or something. (Hey, it’s the internet, stranger things have happened.)

Each of the skulls run anywhere from $200 to over $1000. Some of the custom skulls he’s created are DC Comics’ Deathstroke, Spawn, Maleficent, Avatar (as in “The Last Airbender”, not blue James Cameron aliens) Marvel’s Ultron, Deadpool, and Red Skull (duh) Darth Vader, the ancient god Cthulhu from the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, Frank the bunny from Donnie Darko, and maybe the coolest of them all, Walter White fromBreaking Bad. Check out our gallery below of some of his work, and be sure to go to his website to see the rest, they are all worth a look.